The Dublin Racing Festival 2025 delivered its usual mix of brilliance and heartbreak, with champions reaffirming their status, new stars emerging, and dramatic incidents reshaping the narrative ahead of Cheltenham. From Galopin Des Champs’ effortless Irish Gold Cup victory to Lossiemouth’s gut-wrenching fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle, Leopardstown served up a weekend of racing that won’t soon be forgotten.


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Day 1: Final Demand Sets the Bar, Galopin Des Champs Cruises

The festival began with a bang as Final Demand laid down an early marker in the hurdles division. The race was run at a relentless clip, particularly on the second circuit, where many rivals cried enough. But Final Demand thrived under the pressure, showcasing stamina and determination to pull clear impressively. Time comparisons suggest he ran 20 lengths superior to Perceval Legallois, a 137-rated handicapper, positioning him firmly in the frame for future graded contests.

In the chases, Majborough overcame a few clumsy jumps to post an eye-catching time figure. Despite the mistakes, he quickened smartly between the last two fences, leaving his market rivals questioning their tactics. Firefox, with a 103.8% finishing speed, still had plenty in the tank, but the race was effectively over by the final bend.

However, it was Galopin Des Champs who once again stole the headlines. In what is becoming a familiar sight, he toyed with his rivals in the Irish Gold Cup, setting a steady pace before unleashing his devastating late burst. While visually it may not have been his most flamboyant display, the proximity of his rivals at the finish was flattering. Galopin had more in hand than the bare result suggests and remains the one they all have to beat in the staying chase division.


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Day 2: Drama in the Hurdles, Solness Blazes in the Chases

The second day of the festival belonged to drama, with Lossiemouth’s fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle casting a long shadow. Sent off at 8/11f, she was travelling with trademark enthusiasm when disaster struck at the fourth last. The fall was a heavy one, nearly bringing down State Man, who showed both luck and agility to avoid the carnage. With his closest rival out of the picture, State Man cruised home to claim his third consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle. While the victory adds another Grade 1 to his impressive résumé, it leaves questions unanswered about how he would have fared in a true battle with Lossiemouth.

Daddy Long Legs ran on gamely to finish second, but the form doesn’t suggest he’s ready to mix it with the best at Cheltenham. For Lossiemouth, the Champion Hurdle remains on the agenda, but whether she can reverse form with Constitution Hill is another matter entirely.

Elsewhere in the hurdles, Kopek Des Bordes emerged as a serious Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender with a dominant performance. Rated over 20 lengths better than the day’s top handicap winners, Kopek looks rock solid for Cheltenham and will likely start odds-on.

The chases provided their fair share of excitement too. Solness, under a daring ride from Danny Mullins, set a blistering pace reminiscent of Lossiemouth’s earlier tactics. Many questioned whether he was gifted the race, but the times tell a different story. Solness went unsustainably fast yet showed immense ability to cling on for victory. His 95% finishing speed suggests he was running on fumes by the line, but with a more measured ride, he could be a real threat in the Champion Chase.

Marine Nationale chased hard but found the early exertions too much, while Ballyburn made a notable step forward from his Kempton run. Though his time wasn’t much quicker than the handicaps, he looks a horse that will thrive over further.


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Cheltenham Implications:

As always, the Dublin Racing Festival provided a treasure trove of clues for Cheltenham. Galopin Des Champs remains the gold standard in staying chases, while Kopek Des Bordes looks a nailed-on contender for the Supreme. State Man continues to collect Grade 1s with mechanical efficiency, but whether he can dethrone Constitution Hill is a question that lingers.

The biggest unknown is Lossiemouth. Her fall at Leopardstown leaves more questions than answers, but her raw pace and talent make her impossible to ignore. If she can bounce back and navigate a clean round at Cheltenham, she’ll be a serious player.

All roads now lead to Prestbury Park, and if the DRF was any indication, we’re in for a festival for the ages.